Power plant for submarines and the like



POWER PLANT FOR SUBMARINES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 1, 1940" LIB-1 la 7 94 mart/2 *70 6/ 63 M M036 rouazlsi v 78 20 I06 (Z220 "40 a (0M- H 0 m3 7 Mario 02 [/VVE/VTOR ALF LYSHOLM,

' A TTORNEY Patented Aug. 3, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE rowan PLANT FOR SUBMARINES AND THE LIKE Alf Lysholm, Stockholm, Sweden Application October 1, 1940, Serial No. 359,205 In Sweden October 3, 1939 11 Claims.

M same during the travel.

It has been proposed to use a liquid oxygencarrier together with air for the production of the driving fluid in connection with plants of the abovementioned kind. A liquid carrier such as hydrogen peroxide contains within a given volume a large quantity of oxygen and the amount of air necessary to supply the same quantity of oxygen occupies very much more space even if stored in containers at a high pressure.

The main object of the invention is to produce the most favourable consumption of the liquid oxygen-carrier and of the air with respect to the quantities which can be conveniently stored in the vessel or craft containing the power plant. A further object of the invention is to ensure correct and reliable working of th plant particularly on starting up.

According to the present invention in a power plant having a prime mover and a combustion chamber for producing motive fluid for said prime mover by means of fuel air and a liquid oxygencarrier there is provided manual or automatically actuated means to vary the proportion between the air and theliquid oxygen-carrier and acting so as to increase the liquid-oxygen carrier supply after starting the plant while reducing the air supply.

The invention will be hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating by way of example more or less diagrammatically two embodiments thereof.

Referrring to Fig. 1, I0 denotes a gas turbine, the shaft ll of which drives a propeller (not shown) for a submarine through a reduction gear l2. Motive fluid is supplied to the gas turbine from a combustion chamber l3 through a conduit l4. A vessel l5 containing compressed air at high pressure is connected through a conduit ill with the upper part of the combustion chamber l3. A shut-off valve l1 and a constant pressure valve l8 are arranged in the conduit It.

A fuel container I9 is connected through conduits 20 and 2| to the upper part of the combustion chamber l3. Between said conduits a pump 22 is inserted comprising a plunger 23, an inlet valve 24 and an outlet valve 25. The plunger 23 carries an annular flange 23 between which and the pump housing a spring 21 is arranged which returns the plunger toits original position after each workingcstroke. The plunger 23 is actuated by an eccentric cam 28 mounted on the turbine shaft Ii and rotating therewith.

' The length of stroke of the plunger 23 is limited by a cranked lever 29 pivoted at 39, one end of which bears against the upper surface of the flange 28. A rod 3i is linked to the other end of the lever 29 and also to one end of a .lever 32 pivoted at 33. A rod 34 is pivotally connected to the other end of the lever 32 and to a hand lever 35, which latter is pivotally journalled in a bearing 35.

Movement of the lever 35 in one or the other direction around the pivot 36 regulates the angular position of the lever 29 and thus the length of stroke of the plunger 23 thus controlling the amount of fuel delivered by the pump. The length of the rod 34 is adjustable by means of a turnbuckle 31.

A container 40 contains a liquid oxygen carrier, such as hydrogen peroxide. This container is connected through conduits 4| and 42 to the lower part of the combustion chamber l3. In the conduits 4i and '42 pump 43 is interposed which may be of the same construction as the pump 22. The plunger 44 of thepump 43 is actuated by an eccentric cam 45 driven by the shaft ll of the turbine It. The plunger 44 carries an annular flange 46 which co-operates with one end of a lever 41 for regulating the length of stroke of the plunger 44 and thus the quantity of liquid oxygen carrier supplied to the combustion chamber. The lever 41 is pivoted at 48 and its other end is linked through a rod 49 linked to the hand lever 35. The hand lever 35 thus also controls the supply of liquid oxygencarrier to the combustion chamber.

The exhaust conduit 50 of the turbine l9 communicates with a condenser 5|, in which combustion products, such as water vapours, are condensed, and in which a vacuum thus prevails. The condensate is collected in a container 52 and is pumped out by apump 53. The gaseous combustion products, such as carbon dioxide, pass through a conduit 54 to a compressor 55, which in the embodiment shown is provided with a-piston 56 connected through a connecting rod 51 to a crank 53 formed on the turbine shaft H. The compressor driven by the shaft i l compresses the combustion gases to atmospheric pressure. The gases may subsequently escape to the atmosphere through a conduit 59 having a shut-off valve 68 or theymay be stored in a container 6|. For the latter purpose there is a further compressor 62, which may be of similar structure to the compressor 55 and may be driven by the shaft I I of the turbine I8. Between the container BI and the compressor 62 a valve 63 is provided, while a conduit 64 is provided with a valve 65 through which the combustion gases may escape to the atmosphere.

The power plant operates in the following manner. When starting the plant the shut-off valve I1 is opened. The valve I8 is then automatically opened and air is delivered therethrough and through the conduit I6 at a reduced constant pressure to the combustion chamber I3, and thence to the turbine I8, which begins to rotate. By the rotation of the eccentrics 28 and 45, the pumps 22 and 43 start to deliver fuel and the liquid oxygen carrier to the combustion chamber I3. The fuel is ignited, such as by an ignition device 66. The quantity of liquid oxygencarrier fed by the pump 43 to the combustion chamber should at the moment of ignition be relatively small as otherwise the flame may be extinguished.

As the combustion of the fuel in the combus tion chamber develops, the pressure in the combustion chamber and thus the pressure of the driving fluid admitted to the turbine raises. When operation has continued for som tim the supply of oxygen-carrier and of fuel respectively may be increased by operating the hand lever 35 until the turbine operates with the desired effect. The proportion between the supply of fuel and of oxygen-carrier is adjustable by the member 31.

The increased pressure in the combustion chamber sets up a counter-pressure in the conduit I6, which results in a decrease of the air supply from the container I5. The constant pressure valve I8 is so constructed in accordance with the invention that it closes when a prescribed in the specification of my co-pending application No. 359,204, filed October 1, 1940.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the same I reference characters designate equivalent parts as in the preceding embodiment. The power plant illustrated in Fig. 2 is primarily intended to be used in torpedoes or th like, where there can be no manual control of the plant, when the torpedo has been discharged. The power plant includes a number of valves which are preferably operated by a common member III at the moment when the torpedo is launched. The member I8 is linked through any suitable transmission such as a,bell crank lever I3 pivoted at 14 to a rod II carrying a valve I2. The valve I2 cooperates with a valve housing I5 interposed in the conduits M and 82 between the combustion chamber I3 and liquid oxygen carrier container 48. A valve housing I8 is disposed in the conduits 28 and 2! supplying fuel to the combustion chamber I3 from the container I9. In the valve housing I6 is arranged a 'valve II which through the intermediary of a rod I8 is actuated by the member I8 in the same manner as the valve I2.

A conduit I8 extends from the conduit I6 on the low-pressure side of the constant pressure valve I8 and is connected through a valve housing 88 and a conduit 8i to the upper part of the liquid oxygen-carrier container 48. The valve housing 88 contains a valve member 82 operated by the common member ID. The upper part of the container 48 is connected through a conduit 83 to the upper part of the fuel container I8. A valve housing 84 is provided in the conduit 83 and contains a valve 85 likewise operated by the rod member I8.

The conduit I9 in this embodiment communicates with a cylinder 81 through a conduit 86 having a restriction I88 therein. Cylinder 8! encloses a piston 88 actuated by a spring 88. The piston 88 carries a rod 98. Valves 9| and 92 are linked to the rod 98 through levers 93, 94 pivoted at 95, 86 respectively. The valve 8i co-operates with a valve housing 91 which is interposed in a by-pass conduit 88 connected to the conduit 42. The valve 92 co-operates with a valve housing 98 provided in a by-pass conduit I88 of the conduit H.

A throttling device MI is provided in the conduit I6 between the combustion chamber I3 and the conduit I9. A throttling device I82 is provided in that part of the conduit 42 extendin between the two ends of the by-pass conduit 98. A throttling device I83 is provided in the conduit 98. In the same way throttling devices I84, I85 are disposed in the conduits 2I and I88. A conduit I86 may extend from the conduit 88, preferably from a point between the valve housing 91 and the throttle I83, to the part of the conduit I6 which is located between the throttle WI and the combustion chamber I3. In the conduit I86 a throttle I81 is provided.

When starting the power plant according to Fig. 2 the rod I8 is moved upwardly which may be effected automatically when the torpedo is launched. Obviously, for the apparatu to function, the shut-off valve I! must be opened, such opening being effected in any desired and suitable fashion. various conduits pertaining to the plant. The air leaving the container I5 passes the constant pressure valve I8 at a reduced pressure. By means of the throttle I8I in the conduit I6 the pressure is further reduced for the air entering the combustion chamber I3. The valves I2, 11, 82 and 85 are in open position. The pressure air consequently acts through the conduits I8, 8| on the liquid oxygen carrier in the container 48 and presses the same through the conduit 4I, valve housing I5, conduit 42 to the lower part of the combustion chamber I3. The air-pressure is also transmitted through the conduit 83 and the valve housing 84 to the fuel container I8, and in this way fuel is admitted through the conduit 28, valve housing I6 and conduit 2I to th upper part of the combustion chamber I3. The fuel is ignited in the combustion chamber I3 and the 8| and 92 by this movement of the piston 88 are moved to the open position after some time of operation of the turbine, since owing to the restriction I88 in conduit 86 an appreciable time lag occurs before the air pressure in cylinder 81 is built up sufliciently to actuate piston 88 against the force of spring 89. The liquid oxygen- Passages are now opened between the carrier now also flows to the lower part of the combustion chamber I3 through the by-pass and the valve housing 91. Part of said liquid due to conduit I06 may also be mixed with the air entering the chamber I3 through the conduit I0.

Owing to the valve 02 being opened more fuel can flow to the combustion chamber I3 through the conduit I00. The flow of the liquid oxygencarrier and of fuel through the various conduits is throttled to a determined degree by the devices I02, I03, I01, and I04, I05 respectively. By virtue of the increased supply of the liquid oxygencarrier and of the fuel a more intense combustion is set up in the combustion chamber I3 and consequently the pressure is raised therein, until the turbine'reaches full working capacity. The increased pressure causes a counter-pressure in the conduit I0 so that the supply of air from the container I5 becomes smaller.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific forms and arrangements of construction herein disclosed by way of example but includes all such variations and modifications of structure as may fall within the pur-.

view of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A powerplant intended particularly for submarines, torpedoes and the like comprising a prime mover, a combustion chamber for producing motive fluid for said prime mover, means for supplying fuel, air and a liquid oxygen-carrier to said chamber, and means to vary the proportion between the air and the liquid oxygen-carrier,

said means being operable to increase the liquid oxygen-carrier supply and the fuel supply after starting the plant while reducing the air supply.

2. A power plant intended particularly for submarines, torpedoes and the like comprising a prime mover, a combustion chamber for producing motive fluid for said prime mover, means for supplying fuel, air and a liquid oxygen-carrier to said chamber, means operable to simultaneously increase the supply of fuel and of the liquid oxygen-carrier to said chamber after initial operation and means for automatically reducing the air supply to said chamber when said supplies of fuel and liquid oxygen-carrier ar increased.

3. Apower plant according to claim 1 in which a common member is provided for controlling the supplies of fuel and liquid oxygen carrier to the combustion chamber.

4. A power plant according to claim 1 in which an adjustable member is provided for varying the proportions of the fuel and liquid oxygen carrier 3 supply to the combustion chamber.

duit delivering liquid oxygen-carrier and in the conduit delivering fuel to the combustion chamber, and means for causing branch conduits to open automatically after the start of the plant to increase the rate of feeding fuel and liquid oxygen-carrier respectively to said chamber.

8. A power plant according to claim 1 which includes branch conduits provided in the conduit delivering liquid oxygen-carrier and in the conduit delivering fuel to the combustion chamber and means in these branch conduits for automatically opening them after the start of the plant to increase the rate of feeding liquid oxygen-carrier and fuel, respectively, to said chamber and a delayed action device actuated by the air pressure for controlling said branch conduits.

9. A power plant according to claim 1, which includes conduits causing communication of the air delivery conduit from an air container with the liquid oxygen-carrier container and the fuel container and externally operable shut-oil valves provided in said conduits and in the conduits extending from the two last mentioned containers to the combustion chamber.

10. A power plant according to claim 1, in which the exhaust gases from the turbine escape into a condenser, condensate formed therein being pumped out by a pump, while the residual exhaust gases are compressed to atmospheric pressure by means of a compressor.

11. A- power plant according to claim 1 including a condenser to which the exhaust gases from the prime mover are delivered, a pump for removing condensate from said condenser, an exhaust f gas container and a compressor for compressing the residual exhaust gases from said condenser and delivering them to said exhaust gas container.

ALF LYSHOLM. 

